OTAHKIANS HIT ROAD IN OVC

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Ed Arnzen isn't about to concede anything.

But Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball coach readily admits that he would gladly settle for a split in the Otahkians' first two Ohio Valley Conference games of the season.

Those opening OVC contests will be part of a road trip to Tennessee that begins at 12:30 p.m. today when Southeast takes on Austin Peay in Clarksville.

Then Monday at 5:45 p.m., the Otahkians and Tennessee State will square off in Nashville.

Austin Peay is the defending OVC champion and the Lady Govs are off to a 2-0 league start. They're 5-5 overall. Southeast is 2-5 overall.

"I think Austin Peay might be the best team in the conference right now," said Arnzen. "They're playing well. It's going to be an extremely tough first (OVC) game for us. If we could split this weekend, I'd be really happy."

The Lady Govs return several key players from last year's NCAA Tournament squad.

"They've got some key people back and they've added a player who sat out last season," Arnzen said. "They'll be a really good club."

Tennessee State, which hosts Eastern Illinois in its OVC opener later today, is 3-4 overall.

"Tennessee State won't be as good as Austin Peay, but playing on their court, it will be a tough game," Arnzen said.